While the outdoor recreation opportunities on the North Shore are countless, here are a few of our favorite things to do as you travel Minnesota's North Shore. Drive the "off the beaten path" roads. Make your own discoveries about the land that borders the big Lake Superior!

TOP PICKNorth Shore Fall Colors www.northshorefallcolors.comDaily fall color and bird migration reports, along with over 25 fall color tours to pick from for biking, sailing, hiking, driving and bird watching.

Snowmobile Trails from Duluth to Canada and the Gunflint TrailFrom Duluth to Grand Marais, Minnesota the 153 mile long North Shore State Snowmobile Trail system traverses St. Louis, Lake and Cook Counties of northeastern Minnesota. The trail system winds its way through forests and nearby Lake Superior scenic overlooks and connects to the Gunflint Trail snowmobile trail system.

Lake Superior Fun Facts and StatsThat's not a river you see out the window as you drive along Hwy 61! Don't be a dork, with our fun facts and stats you'll amaze the family or friends. By-the-way, deer don't turn into moose, it's cooler by the big lake in the summer and a little warmer in the winter. Find out why when you check out the facts and stats we put together for you.

Activities By Location
We've assembled plenty of "things to do" and "where to go" and "what to see," for your ease of finding the activity to pursue while you're up, event to attend or place to hike, bike, fish, canoe, sail or drive!

TOP PICKHUGE BIRD MIGRATION LOCATION - Hawk Ridge Nature Center in Duluth
Many public programs. During the fall, migrating hawks and other birds of feather concentrate in impressive numbers at the western tip of Lake Superior. Hawks migrate from as far away as the Arctic towards wintering areas as distant as South America. Reluctant to cross a large body of water, birds funnel down the North Shore along the shoreline and hills. Overlooking Duluth, Minnesota, the view alone is well worth the stop. Bring your binoculars or spotting scopes, and zoom in on various bird species or sea going ships leaving/entering the Duluth Port.

French River Fish Hatchery
On Scenic 61 at the French River 218-723-4881
Self-guided tours of this cold water fish hatchery are available weekdays from 8am-4pm. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources incubates herring, suckers, walleye, rainbow trout, steelhead and salmon at this location.

Stoney Point Drive
A scenic loop off Scenic 61 along Lake Superior. About 15 miles NE of Duluth. A great place to wave watch here in stormy weather, have a picnic and shoreline fish.

Silver Cliff - On Hwy 61 east of Two Harbors
The highest bluff rising directly out of Lake Superior. Builders carved Highway 61 out of the cliffside 125 feet above the lake. The new tunnel provides a safer route and features a wayside area, that you can take in the great cliffside views.

Lafayette Bluff Tunnel
On your return trip down the shore, you can admire a vista that occurs at the bend of the tunnel as it gives way to the western view.

Bayside Park
Off Hwy 61 just E of Beaver Bay/W of Silver Bay. This park and overlook have a great picnic site. It is also a great spot to watch ships load at the North Shore Mining dock.

Rock Climbing
Rock climbers will be pleased by the challenge and scenery presented at Palisade Head and Shovel Point in Tettegouche State Park and Section 13.

Finland, Minnesota
Check out the "off the beaten track" at the intersection of MN Hwy 1 and CR 6 & 7, about 7miles N of Hwy 61. The community of Finland represents what a number of the small shoreline villages were like 25 years ago. Finland is in the valley behind the Sawtooth range. Don't forget to visit the nearby Crosby Manitou State Park or Isabella, Minnesota.

North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum - On Hwy 61 In Tofte, Minnesota
The actual museum is built across the bay from the original site of the Twin Fish Houses, the museum is a replica of the Tofte brothers' and Hans Engleson's 1905 fish house. The museum has on display many relics, photos and artifacts that were passed down from the Tofte and Engelson families. This is a fabulous museum, it tells the story of commercial fishing along the Shore and at Isle Royale. The Schroeder-Tofte-Lutsen Visitor Center is also located here.

Good Harbor Bay Panorama
Just east of Thomsonite Beach, Highway 61 turns left and reveals an incredible picturesque Good Harbor Bay, Seagull Rock and the small town of Grand Marais in the distance. The wayside rest area and vehicle pullover area are on the lakeside of the road, at the height of land or you can stop at the newly remodeled Cutface Creek Wayside Rest on the eastern edge of the bay.

Kadunce River State Wayside
On Hwy 61 about 8 miles NE of Grand Marais. Nice spot for picnic, stretching the legs, a short hike or river ski.

The International Border between the USA and Ontario, Canada
On Hwy 61 is about 40 miles NE of Grand Marais. Great State Park with waterfalls worth seeing! Grand Portage State Park